The 56-year-old was airlifted to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford where she spent the next six weeks, the first in intensive care.

She was also wheelchair-bound for a further four weeks but has made a good recovery since the collision in May, 2009.

Lesley’s father, of Thames Ditton, decided to lose weight and raise money for Surrey Air Ambulance after he was told by his doctor he was grossly overweight.

He tipped the scales at 117 kilos in March but now weighs a healthy 93.7kilos after shedding three stone in five months.

Laurie was joined in his sponsored slim by his friend Fraser Elliot, 44, who lost a stone and now weighs 11.5 stone.

He said: “We have reached the end of our slimming campaign and it has been an interesting experiment for Fraser and myself and one that has benefited us both.

“I did it through cutting out alcohol, fried food and taking the dog out. It was painless and I’m going to carry on and try and lose more weight.”

Laurie, Fraser and Lesley visited the Surrey Air Ambulance base at Dunsfold last week (August 15) to present a cheque for £349 to the charity which relies almost entirely on public donations.

It took the helicopter just 10 minutes to get to Stanwell following Lesley’s collision, a journey that would have taken almost an hour by road, and a further six minutes to get to hospital.

Lesley said: “I’m delighted with my father’s weight loss because I think it will make him live longer. It’s nice to see him walking again and he looks so much better.”

If you would like to make a donation to the Air Ambulance please call 01622 833833. Alternatively cheques can be made payable to Surrey Air Ambulance and posted to Wheelbarrow Park Estate, Pattenden Lane, Marden, Kent, TN12 9QJ

Monday, 8 August 2011

A Ripley teenager was reunited with the Surrey Air Ambulance doctor who helped save his life as he visited the helicopter base.

Joe Wilson, 15, was crossing Newark Lane when he collided with a car on the final day of his GCSE exams in June.

The Year 10 George Abbot School pupil sustained a serious head injury and a fractured collarbone.

Paramedics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and a passing GP were first at the scene and began treating Joe before the helicopter crew arrived.

Dr John O’Neill and critical care paramedic David Wright then stabilised Joe at the roadside, giving him an emergency anaesthetic.

They took him directly to the nearest major trauma centre, St George’sHospital in London, where a team of doctors and nurses including a neurosurgeon were waiting for him.

He was eventually allowed home after four weeks and visited the Surrey Air Ambulance base last week (August 4th) with his mother Nicky and brother Thomas.

Joe said: “The doctor helped save my life but he was quite humble about it. I’m just really lucky that they came to my aid.”

His mother added: “We know it’s a charity and we are very grateful my son managed to get their treatment and early intervention.”

Joe cycles to school every day but was not wearing his helmet at the time of the collision and his family are warning parents to make sure their children always wear head protection.

The youngster is now planning a sponsored ride for the charity which relies almost entirely on public donations and receives no National Lottery funding.

He is also hoping to persuade his friends to wear their most colourful and craziest shoes in return for a £1 donation as a part of fundraising Funky Footwear Friday which happens on September 23rdas part of Air Ambulance Week.

Monday, 1 August 2011

A husband and wife donated almost £1,500 to life-saving charity, Surrey Air Ambulance, as they were reunited with the paramedic who helped rescue them.

Motorcyclists Sheila and Wayne Smith, from Staines, were involved in a road traffic collision on the A24 at Dorking two years ago.

Mr Smith sustained a fractured tibula and fibula and was knocked unconscious while his wife escaped with minor injuries.

Two years later, the couple were reunited with Clinical Manager, Gary Wareham, as they handed over a cheque following a sponsored skydive by Sheila.

She said: "I wanted to do something that you're not supposed to do when you're 50-year-old woman, so I did a skydive.

"I thought it would be a good opportunity to raise funds for charity and chose Surrey Air Ambulance because of our personal connection.

"It was fun, I really enjoyed it and having the wind buffeting against you is a bit like being on a motorbike.

"If I had booked the skydive and not done it for charity I could have backed out, whereas, because I was raising money I had to go through with it."

The couple are members of Wey Valley Advanced Motorcyclists and had gone out for a ride on separate bikes, when Sheila lost control and fell off in March, 2009.

Mr Smith, 54, was following behind and was struck by his wife's bike. He was treated at the scene by the Surrey Air Ambulance and land paramedic crews.

It took the helicopter 15 minutes to get to Box Hill where they landed in a field, a journey that would have taken twice as long by road.

The couple were both taken to East Surrey Hospital at Redhill, where Mr Smith remained for the next 11 days before he was finally allowed home.

The retired law enforcement officer was off work for a year, but has since made a good recovery.

If you would like to make a donation to the Air Ambulance please call 01622 833833. Alternatively cheques can be made payable to Surrey Air Ambulance and posted to Wheelbarrow Park Estate, Pattenden Lane, Marden, Kent, TN12 9QJ

A Sittingbourne father’s charity ride has been given a boost after he won a £1,000 bike designed by former Olympic champion Chris Boardman.

Donal Watkin will be swapping his fold-up mountain bike for the fantastic prize kindly donated by Halfords, as part of the life-saving charity’s Double 100 Bike Challenge.

The father-of-two correctly answered that the helicopter flies with a specialist doctor, as well as a pilot and critical care paramedic.

He will now be using his brand new hybrid Boardman bike for a London to Paris ride in aid of Demelza House in September.

He said: “I was over the moon when I got the call to say I’d won and the timing was absolutely perfect because I’m in the middle of training for the ride.

“I used to run a lot but because of sporting injuries, I’ve now become a keen cyclist and I’ve re-discovered a lot of the coast of Kent.

“I work in London, but I often stop off at Margate and Westgate and cycle back to Sittingbourne. Having this new bike means it’s a lot easier and pleasurable.”

Donal, of Adelaide Drive, visited the helicopter base last week with his wife Michelle and sons Charlie and Tom to collect his bike from Lee Homden, Halfords store manager.

He added: “I was very impressed, I think the Trust does a wonderful job and seeing the helicopter and meeting the crew brought home what a vital service it is.”

More than 80 cyclists took part in this year’s inaugural Double 100 Bike Challenge last month. This100-mile or 100km ride raised over £12,000 for Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.

If you would like to make a donation to the Air Ambulance please call 01622 833833. Alternatively cheques can be made payable to Kent Air Ambulance Trust and posted to Wheelbarrow Park Estate, Pattenden Lane, Marden, Kent, TN12 9QJ

Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust is a registered charity established to relieve sick and injured people in South East England and surrounding areas by providing a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).

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About us

Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust is a registered charity established to relieve sick and injured people in South East England and surrounding areas by providing a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).
Responding swiftly to 999 calls, the Air Ambulance can deliver a highly skilled team of Specialist Doctors and Critical Care Paramedics to the patient at the scene.